APRIL 30, 2001

Carmakers still want breakaway series

PATRICK FAURE, president of Renault Sport, has indicated that the European Car Manufacturers Association (ACEA) are continuing with plans to start a rival series to Formula One.

ACEA threatened to set-up the rival series after fears that Formula One would be turned into pay-per-view television by German media company Kirch, who own the majority shares in the SLEC company, which in turn has the commercial rights to the sport.

Despite assurances from Kirch that Formula One will stay on free television and suggestions that the ACEA could be offered a share of SLEC, Renault, along with Fiat, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW, are set to go ahead with the rival series.

"We have a position where all the manufacturers involved have said that they want to create their [own] formula after 2007 probably, at the end of the Concorde Agreements," said Faure.

"We are in the process of creating a company to do that, all together, and to appoint a general manager. Everything is following a normal pace."

When asked if Renault or the car manufacturers were in discussions with Kirch, following the signing of a 100-year deal for the commercial rights to the sport, Faure said: "I don't think so. We have not spoken with Mr. Kirch, I don't think, for the last month or two."